realityshifted

[Linda's appearance on the Plane today is a great contrast to how she looked immediately after Duke's death. she's still in her deputy's uniform, but there's no blood this time, and she's calmly sitting at a table in the library. the table is covered in books--history books, specifically, but from a variety of periods and worlds. the one she has open in front of her is about the Drashani Empire, and she's pouring over it like it's the most engrossing thing in the world]

[though there's nothing about her to make it immediately apparent, she's been at this for a while. ever since she found some chocolate sitting out in the kitchen, all she's wanted to do is learn about things--places and people in particular. she hasn't consciously connected this sudden new hobby to her snack, though. as far as she's concerned, she's just in an odd mood, and anything is better than concentrating on the dome anyway]

[despite her current obsession, she wouldn't object to an interruption. after all, people are full of things she can learn, too]

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[Linda looks up at the sudden unexpected voice, frowning at this strange and surprisingly forward man] What doctor? [because it sounded to her like he expected her to know]

[when he mentions a fiancé, there's a flicker of sadness in her expression, but it disappears as quickly as it came. and she finds that the curiosity that has kept her at all these books is now making her wonder about this man] You don't sound like you're new here. Have you been coming for a while?

[from her uniform and ring, he can probably tell that having a fiancé and arresting people are traits that she and Menzies share]

Me, I'm the Doctor. That's my name. Hello! [He takes a seat across from her, noticing her own ring. (He's long since noticed the uniform; it isn't hard to miss.) He doesn't notice her reaction to her words, though; he never sees that kind of thing.]

[He sits back in the seat, kicking his feet out in front of him as he relaxes.] Oh, well, I've been coming here for years. Forgot how many, though. Lost track of time. So what's your name?

[she gives him a look for seemingly being difficult] Doctor what?

Years!? You've been coming for that long, too? [her incredulity is clear. Wash also gave her an answer like that, but she still can't imagine dealing with this place for so long without something changing] What keeps you coming back?

[for an instant she considers the idea of withholding her name since he's being so cagey about his, but in the end she's really too nice for that--not to mention the name badge she's wearing gives away her last name anyway] Linda. Linda Esquivel.

[Oh, he shouldn't be surprised another police officer doesn't believe that "the Doctor" is his name.] Really, it's just "the Doctor". I'm not trying to pull a fast one on you, Linda Linda Esquivel. [Meaning, "don't try to arrest me for that and being impossible about your name--and mine."]

Well, the company mostly. [He sniffs casually.] I've been able to meet with old friends I haven't seen in centuries. Plus you can't argue with free food, and it's the only place I can find certain drinks from my home.

So how do people know who you are? [because it seems to her that there are too many Doctors in the world for that to work well]

I guess I can see that. [after all, it was the people more than anything that kept her in Chester's Mill even when her parents left. but her curiosity is bubbling up more than ever now, so she asks:] But where's that? [and she wonders why he would have to come here to find drinks from it. she assumes he must have moved away]

Well, they usually don't. [He smiles, his eyes twinkling mischievously.] Not until our paths cross, that is. After that, well, I'm pretty unforgettable.

Where, well, um... [He pulls a face, adjusting his position in his seat.] Well, by now, you know that people aren't all from the same place, namely Earth. I'm one of those people. I'm a Time Lord from Gallifrey.

If you say so. [she's clearly not impressed]

A Time Lord? [she raises an eyebrow. between the name and race, his description of himself sounds really made up] What does that mean?

[He does say so!]

That's what I am. Like you're a human and I'm a Time Lord from a planet called Gallifrey in the constellation Kasterborous. We may look the same; ten digits and toes, two eyes and ears, two arms and legs. But internally, we're different. I've got two hearts and my brain can process a thousand thoughts at the same time--minimum--and that's just for starters.

[she stares at him, unable to come up with anything to say to that outside of one question] You have two hearts?

[He nods, and reaches into his coat for something.] Did you want to hear? I've got--hang on... [He pulls a myriad of objects; a ball of string, several colored paperclips, various writing utensils, a couple bouncy balls, a wind-up mouse, and finally, a stethoscope.] Ah haaa, here we are! [He holds the stethoscope out to her while he's stuff the other stuff back into his pockets.]

[she watches the strange (and unbelievably large) assortment of items that inexplicably seem to be able to come out of his small(?) coat pockets with consternation. uncertainly, she takes the stethoscope when he offers it, looking from it to him, at a loss] You're serious?

[He beams] Absolutely! It's not every day you get to meet a bipedal with a binary vascular system! Well, I can if I look in the mirror, but you! Ohhh, not you. I'm of a rare sort!

[she snorts] Modest, too.

[but she's too curious to resist, so she puts the stethoscope on, offering the end of it back to him to position for her] All right, show me.

[003]

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